Rupert Murdoch Lauds CNN Founder Ted Turner: ‘A Great American and Friend’

Home TV News May 6, 2026 12:13pm PT Rupert Murdoch Lauds CNN Founder Ted Turner: ‘A Great American and Friend’ By Todd Spangler Plus Icon Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor xpangler Latest Rupert Murdoch Lauds CNN Founder Ted Turner: ‘A Great American and Friend’ 16 minutes ago Trump Claims Ted Turner Was ‘Devastated’ CNN Became ‘Woke’; President Hopes Ellisons Can ‘Bring It Back to Its Former Credibility’ 3 hours ago Ted Turner Praised as ‘Visionary’ and ‘Trailblazer’ by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav 4 hours ago See All Getty Images Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner were business rivals — and their Fox News and CNN news networks remain fierce competitors. But Murdoch and Turner were also friends. In a statement following news about Turner’s death, Murdoch gave credit to Turner for having the vision to launch CNN in 1980. “Ted Turner’s vision for 24-hour cable news transformed the media industry and gave viewers everywhere a front seat to witness history unfold,” Murdoch said in a statement. “His impact as a trailblazer has left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape. He was a great American and friend.” Related Stories 5 Reasons 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Slayed at the Box Office, From Nostalgia to Meryl Streep's Big Screen Return